Mongolian spots are frequent among the Mongolian and Negroid children, but relatively rare in whites. The appearance and rate of disappearance of these spots in the Japanese has been studied systematically and reported.1-4 Similar comprehensive and large-scale studies have been lacking in the English literature, undoubtedly due to the rarity of this trait in children in Western communities.
As a result of emigration and intermarriage,5 there is a higher chance of this skin manifestation being seen more frequently by Western pediatricians in the future.
This report describes the results of our observations in a group of Chinese children in Hong Kong.
Patients and Methods.—Observations were made in 3,230 consecutive children who attended the Sai Ying Pun General Outpatient Clinic, Hong Kong, between August 1980 and April 1981. The ages ranged from 1 week to 12 years and all were ethnic Chinese. These children attended the clinic because